meretriciousness

9.9

Something that looks bright and attractive but has no real value

noun
/ˌmɛrəˈtrɪʃəsnəs/

Formal

: ostentación

The meretriciousness of the advertisement caught my attention, but I soon realized it was just a gimmick.

Examples

The review pointed out the meretriciousness of the movie's special effects, which overshadowed its weak plot.
However, on another level, the title of the story establishes a kind of ironic allegorical relation with the crass meretriciousness of the sermon, establishing a semblance of symbolism, a theme I shall return to later in this study.

Academic text (1991)
She was criticized for her meretriciousness, as her outfit was more about flash than substance.

Synonyms

vanity

vsmeretriciousness

Literature

20 5.3

The state of having no real value or purpose

casts superficial attractiveness as covering absence of genuineness

glitz

vsmeretriciousness

19 7.5

Flashy style that looks nice but is not deep

emphasizes flashy looks while lacking real genuineness or value

superficiality

vsmeretriciousness

4 7.8

Lack of deep thought or careful attention

means flashy attractiveness specifically lacking real value beneath the surface

pretentiousness

vsmeretriciousness

Offensive

2 7.7

Acting like you are more important or more educated than you really are

is about flashy impression that hides lack of genuine value

flashiness

vsmeretriciousness

1 5.6

A bright, showy style that attracts attention and looks cheap

highlights surface show while hiding lack of genuine worth

tawdriness

vsmeretriciousness

1 8.7

A cheap, flashy look that seems low quality

is about flashy attractiveness that covers an absence of true worth

all sizzle and no steak

vsmeretriciousness

Informal

1 9.6

A thing that looks exciting but has no real value

is about flashy appearance that lacks genuine value or worth

showiness

vsmeretriciousness

1 6.5

A style that is very bright or richly decorated to attract attention

points to flashy appeal that lacks sincere value beneath it

gaudiness

vsmeretriciousness

1 7.2

Too much bright decoration on clothes or signs that looks bad

stresses showy surface that does not have real value underneath

garishness

vsmeretriciousness

1 7.5

Things that are very bright or flashy and look unpleasant

is concerned with surface flashiness rather than genuine value

speciousness

vsmeretriciousness

Formal

1 9.4

The appearance of being true when it is false

relates by appearing attractive superficially but differs by deceptive truth claim

mere trumpery

vsmeretriciousness

Archaic

9.9

Worthless showy things meant to impress people

focuses on flashy appeal that conceals lack of true value

splashiness

vsmeretriciousness

7.2

A quality of being showy and loud in style that hides simple beauty

focuses on superficial brightness that masks lack of real value

ostentatiousness

vsmeretriciousness

9.1

A way of behaving that shows off wealth or style to impress others

is about ostentatious display that lacks deeper genuineness or worth

vainness

vsmeretriciousness

8.1

Having no real result or value

frames flashy appeal as lacking real worth or lasting substance

Antonyms

genuineness

3 4.0

The state of being real and sincere

How Showy

gaudiness

1 7.2

meretriciousness

Formal

9.9

showiness

1 6.5

ornamentation

6 4.9

plainness

1 3.5

Surface Forms

meretriciousness singular

meretriciousnesses plural

Morphology

meretriciousness = meretricious (opaque) = meretricious + ness

Although '-ness' is a regular noun-forming suffix, the adjective 'meretricious' is rare and its sense is not transparently derived from any common English base, so learners cannot infer the meaning.

Etymology

Meretriciousness comes from an old Latin word meretrix meaning 'prostitute', and it came to mean being showy to get attention but without real value. A helpful way to remember it is to think of cheap, shiny jewelry that looks like gold but is fake, so meretriciousness means flashy but worthless.